Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1887-09-01

helpless form in my arms She soon
revived. however. and mother-love and
courage oyerpowered the sentiments
that predominated at sight of me and
a knowledge of the terrific storm.
Reason and judgment and my most
persuasive powers combined induced
her to remain where she was till the
severe but short shower was over and
a carriage could be brought to take her
home, where, l assured her, would
certainly bring the children in a very
short time.
I'll not attempt to tell how we sur
vived the horrors of the next few
hours. The afternoon did pass, but
looked in the glass the next morning.
surprised to see my hair as black as a
crows wing. and gazed upon my fam
lily, and wondered if it were all q
hideous nightmare.
At about eight o'clock in the even
ing l returned to the house, as had at
intervals, just as team dashed to the
door. and cries of "Papa"' "Papar'
reached my ears. clasped the two
boys to my heart, and for a moment
forgot all else. The familiar cry had
reached my wife. and all four of us
were in seemingly inextricable heap.
Suddenly she cried: my Kathie! my
baby! Where's my baby?'
you haven't lost baby, too" ex-
claimed the gentleman who had re-
turned the boys.
"Oh, we gave her away, but p'r'aps
you can buy her back" said Alphonse.
By the time we compreheLded the
whole story, I'm afraid I felt little
like the Irish woman whose story.
when school-boy, l told many times
-''ready to break every bone in his
body"
1t seems that after climbing over tie
pickets, which had been strictly for.
hidden, they went through the back
street for quite distance. coming out
just in time to see Mary leave Kathie.
and catching up the carriage pole, ran
away as fast as they could. I'VE were
going for candy" they said. "but
couldn't Iind the place" After they
went miles, Alph told us, they got
on 'where the trunks go, when the
man didn't see, and had great long
ride"
AS near as we could ascertain, they
pushed the baby-carriage about for
some time and then stole a six-mile
ride on the back of a hack. 1t COM
menced to rain just as the driver drew
up at the residence of the gentleman
who returned them. AS he assisted a
lady to alight, they got down unno-
ticed. but were soon discovered by the
lady of the house and cared for till her
husband arrived and Immediately took
the culprits home.
Question after question in regard to
baby elected only one answer: 1--WE
gave her to big girl" Suddenly there
was peal of the door-bell. and Mary,
and sobbing. seized Kathie
from the arms of kind-hearted. moth
erly woman, who on her return from
hard days work found the child with
her twelve-years-old girl, who said she
was ut the door, when two little boys
appeared, saying: We'll give you the
baby" They ''left her and ran away"
so she lust took care of her till mother
came.' Poor little dear!" the woman
said; II knew somebody was getting
and hurried out for
an evening paper, and found out where
she belonged, and brought her home.
ma am, Immediately"
In the midst of tears and embraces,
Alph said: Here's your 'handsniff,
taking handkerchief from
a bag he had on his arm.
"Where did You get that?" asked
some one.
1--WE took it to put our pennies in:
but, papa, 1 'cluded to spend mine,
only some old yellow ones we found in
bag" WIS the answer.
WHAT / exclaimed, remembering
that l gave my wife five twenty-dollar
gold pieces that morning.
I'VE didn't eat no red candy nor
nofiin', only got drink of water, cause
we were very firstly, and course we
paid the big boy" said one."
I'VE just gave him the old yellow
cents. and kept our nice new nick
els said the other.
Thank Heaven! we are all alive,
though the ''congestive chilli that
seized my wife, after the excitement
was partially over, was almost more
than she could survive, and for time
we feared she was crossing the "river
If death; but now she is once more
her household, or at least
her husband, and hear her dear voice
calling: John! John! where are you?
It is two o'clock. "-Hdrper's Bazaar.